TEHRAN (FNA)- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday downplayed the US threats against Iran, saying that such moves are aimed at decelerating the country's improvement in economy.

"The US wants to divert the Iranian officials' attention from the real battlefield, that is the war of economy, by repeating the trick of military threat and war; officials should keep vigilant," Ayatollah Khamenei said in Tehran on Wednesday, addressing a large gathering of Iranian people from East Azarbaijan province.

He referred to the CIA, Mossad and the British spy agencies' strenuous attempts and certain regional states' spending their petro dollars for launching propaganda war against the Islamic Republic and Revolution, and said of course, there are certain problems in Iran like any other country but the enemy is attempting to disappoint people by ignoring the important tasks accomplished in the past 38 years after the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Noting that the entire world has today admitted Iran's might and decisive role, specially in the region, Ayatollah Khamenei said yet the US still speaks of the military option against Iran while some EU officials claim that Iran would experience war were it not for the nuclear deal; but "this is a sheer lie" and they want to divert the Iranian officials' mindset from the war of economy to the military war.

Elsewhere, he appreciated the Iranian nation's massive participation in the February 10 rallies to commemorate the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, but meantime, warned the Iranian officials that this mass participation doesn’t mean that people are fully satisfied with their the state performance.

He said there are still a number of problems, including recession, unemployment and inflation, which should be resolved by state officials.

His remarks came after US President Donald Trump threatened Iran that military options are "not off the table" in response to the country's recent missile test.

A few days later, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined the US government's recent threats against Tehran will in no way make any changes to the country's defensive programs.

"Tehran is unmoved by the US’ threats and the Islamic Republic only relies on its own defense means amid hostile rhetoric, including hints of military aggression, by Washington," Zarif wrote on his Twitter account.

The Iranian foreign minister's remarks came after US President Donald Trump wrote on his Twitter account on Friday that “Iran is playing with fire.” Trump said that Tehran does not “appreciate how kind former US President Barack Obama was to them.

"We will never initiate war, but we can only rely on our own means of defense,” the Iranian foreign minister said.

Zarif, meantime, challenged Iran's enemies to verifiably and sincerely declare the defensive nature of their military program.

"We will never use our weapons against anyone, except in self-defense. Let us see if any of those who complain can make the same statement," he added.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Renowned Iranian stem cell scientist Professor Massoud Soleimani who has been jailed by the FBI without trial for nearly one year has likely been imprisoned for rejecting cooperation in a highly important research project for the US several years ago, and is under pressure to cooperate with the United States, his brother said Saturday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Some Dutch police centers, especially those located in the Hague, use excessive force against immigrants, according to a report published Friday by Dutch public broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS).

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's First Counsellor to the United Nations Farhad Mamdouhi said unilateral sanctions, use of force and coercion and disrespect for the international law are seriously threatening regional and global peace.

TEHRAN (FNA)- At least five people have been killed and some 3,500 evacuated in two days of torrential rains in Southeast Spain, with many roads, railways and an airport closed on Friday and emergency services rescuing people stuck in flooded highway tunnels.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Spokesman of Iran's Guardian Council vetting body Abbas Ali Kadkhodayee lashed out at the Canadian government for practicing "state-sponsored economic terrorism" against Tehran by selling the country's assets.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said on Saturday that the ultimate goal of the “maximum pressure" campaign of US President Donald Trump was to make the government in Tehran fall, adding that in short term Washington is after ruining the economy of the Islamic Republic.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Bolivian Ambassador to Tehran Romina Guadalupe Pérez Ramos said on Saturday that her country is strongly opposed to the United States' unilateral sanctions against Iran, underlining that La Paz holds Washington responsible for violating international law with its hostile measures against the Islamic republic.

TEHRAN (FNA)- India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to India Ali Chegeni, reiterated that New Delhi is determined to further expand defense and military cooperation with Tehran.